NEW DELHI: Indian esports powerhouse S8UL has officially qualified for the Grand Finals in three premier game titles—Apex Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and EAFC 25—at the highly anticipated Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24.
Backed by a historic $70 million (approx. ₹598 crore) prize pool, EWC 2025 is the largest and most diverse esports event in history, spanning over eight weeks and more than 20 competitive titles. S8UL’s success not only cements its dominance in multiple disciplines but also puts India firmly on the global esports map.
Apex Legends: Dominating the APAC South
S8UL’s Apex Legends squad—comprising Australians Rick “Sharky” Wirth, Benjamin “Jesko” Spaseski, and Tom “Legacy” Canty—qualified via the ALGS 2025: Split 1 Pro League (APAC South) by finishing in the top five with 109 points in a grueling triple round-robin format.
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The squad brings rich experience, with Sharky having won the ALGS Championship in 2022, and the trio having previously competed at the inaugural EWC and several ALGS events. They now head to the ALGS Midseason Playoffs, to be hosted at the EWC from July 10–13, where 40 of the world’s best teams will vie for a $2 million prize pool.
EAFC 25: European Excellence, Indian Backing
Representing S8UL in EAFC 25, German pro Jonas “Jonny” Wirth earned his EWC slot by finishing in the top four of the Virtual Bundesliga 2024–25. A veteran champion of both the VBL and eChampions League, Jonny breezed through group stages and playoffs before narrowly missing the finals.
He will now compete in the FC Pro 25 World Championship from August 7–10, where 32 elite players will battle for a $1.5 million (₹12.5 crore) prize pool. S8UL’s Aaron “Happy” Rivera also remains in contention after a commanding streak in LATAM North, winning three FC Pro 25 Open Cups to qualify for the Play-Ins, which offer four final EWC slots.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) – North America’s Best, India’s Flagbearers
S8UL’s newly acquired MLBB roster stamped its ticket to Riyadh by winning the NACT Spring Season, defeating Area 77 4–2 in the grand final. The squad features world-class talent, including Michael “MobaZane” Cosgun, Ian “FwydChickn” Hohl, Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun, Ziameth-Jei “ZIA” Caluya, Vo “Shark” Trung, and Carlos “Bestplayer1” Ortega Vega.
The team will compete in the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) from July 10 to August 2 at EWC, featuring 16 global teams, a double elimination group stage, and a best-of-7 grand final format with $3 million (₹25.6 crore) up for grabs.
Beyond the Big Three: Chess, StarCraft II, Tekken, and More
S8UL’s ambitions extend far beyond the titles already secured. The organization is fielding contenders in multiple other prestigious games:
- Chess: Indian GMs Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will compete in the Last Chance Qualifier (July 24–26) for a shot at EWC glory.
- StarCraft II: Korean legend Pyung Jae “GuMiho” Koh represents S8UL at the Global Qualifier (June 21–22), marking the org’s RTS debut.
- Fighting Games: Mexican fighter Marcoantonio “Yurikov” Malpica (Fatal Fury), German player Nino “Nino” Schwarz, and Iranian-German Arja “Sephiblack” Gamoori (both in Tekken 8) are slated for upcoming qualifiers.
- Call of Duty: Warzone: Despite a valiant effort, S8UL’s trio narrowly missed qualifying, falling just three points short in the NA Online Qualifier.
India’s Global Aspirations
As the first Indian organization to compete in 13 top-tier esports titles, S8UL has set a bold benchmark in global representation. The organization, co-founded by Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal and Naman “Mortal” Mathur, is also eyeing the prestigious Club Championship—an award that honors all-round performance across multiple games at the EWC.
With additional signings and qualifiers on the horizon, S8UL is aiming to expand its footprint to eight or more titles, signaling its aggressive push toward becoming a multi-game superclub.
The EWC 2025 promises to be a spectacle of global esports, with stadium-sized venues, immersive fan zones, and massive international broadcast coverage. As the world gears up for the largest esports festival ever hosted, all eyes will be on S8UL—not just as India’s torchbearers, but as serious contenders on the world stage.
